Internet users are astonished by the discovery of the Landsverk 210, a Harley-Davidson from the 1930s built by the Swedes and equipped with a light machine gun.
Landsverk was a Swedish military contractor in the 1930s that built a series of armored motorcycle prototypes. However, it’s important to note that these were a front for the Germans, and the only person who ever owned a Landsverk 210 was a Nazi.
The L-210 was based on a 1,200 cc Harley-Davidson V2 and was created because Danish military forces had already adopted the motorcycle across their fleet. This allowed for parts sharing and reduced the need for recycling mechanics onto new bikes, helping to cut costs.
The jaw-dropping prototype went viral after being discovered on Reddit, where users posted images of the tank-style bike on the subreddit r/ShittyTechnicals. The model was based on a Harley-Davidson of the era and featured a Madsen 8×58 machine gun operated from the sidecar.
“First time I’ve seen an armored motorcycle,” said a Reddit user. “Good for a shooting ride. But the speed?” asked another, which is a valid concern, considering that in addition to the weight of the machine gun and sidecar, the bike also had reinforced armor, making it weigh over 720 kg, according to Tanks Encyclopedia.
The Landsverk was, however, a cover for the Germans, as by this time they were prohibited from manufacturing war weapons under the Treaty of Versailles. As a result, the only L-210 ended up being sold to Baron Friedrich Karl Johannes von Schlebrügge, a South American Nazi diplomat who bought one and shipped it to South America.
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Landsverk 210 armoured motorcycle
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